Morpeth Bypass gets final approval

Anna Smith

Construction of the Morpeth Northern Bypass could start next week after the scheme was given final approval by the Government.

Northumberland County Council has today received permission from the Secretary of State for Transport to build a strategic link road between Whorral Bank and the Al north of the town.

Approval of the full and final bid to the Department for Transport was given in a joint release by The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Transport Secretary, confirming Government funding.

It means that the construction contract can now be awarded and work will start as soon as possible. The project is expected to take around 18 months.

Council Policy Board Member for Streetcare and Environment Ian Swithenbank said: “The approval is the final confirmation that we can start work on construction of this extremely important link road.

“As well as greatly improving links to towns in the south east of the county and alleviating traffic pressures in Morpeth, it will also open up new areas for possible development, leading to further boosts to the local economy.

We have been preparing for this announcement for some time and are geared up to commence construction work as early as next week to ensure that the benefits are achieved as soon as possible.

Ian Swithenbank,
Northumberland County Council Policy Board Member for Streetcare and Environment.

“We have been preparing for this announcement for some time and are geared up to commence construction work as early as next week to ensure that the benefits are achieved as soon as possible.”

The total cost of the scheme is £30million, with £9million invested by Northumberland County Council and the remainder coming from the Department for Transport.

After the Pegswood bypass was completed in 2007, it is the second phase of the link road between South East Northumberland and the A1.

It will create a 3.8km long bypass to the north of Morpeth, running from Whorral Bank roundabout to the A1 trunk road between Fairmoor and Lancaster Park.

To follow the development of the project visit www.morpethnorthernbypass.org